Draft-equalizer.



PATENTED MAY 22, 1906.

H. T. RAILSBAGK.

DRAFT EQUALIZER.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 12, 1905.

I-I.S.RAi LSBACK.

Wbtngsow Y W@ "5];

attozwmyqf cmum no. FNOTC-UYNOGIUMIZRS, w zm UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 22, 1906.

Application filed September 12, 1905. Serial No. 278,157.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HUBERT T. RAILSBAOK, acitizen of the United States, residing at Mountain View, in the countyof Kiowa and Territory of Oklahoma, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Draft- Equalizers; and I do hereby declare the followingto be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such aswill enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make anduse the same- My invention relates to draft-equalizers; and its objectis to provide a device of this character for equalizing the draft wheretwo horses are placed one 1n front of the other. One of the greatobjections to the use of two-horse agricultural implements or machinesfor working the ground or planting after the crop has reached a certainheight has been the fact that the horses trample or push down thevegetation, because the distance between the rows will not permit twohorses to travel side by side without such damage resulting. Because ofthis objection it has been customary to employ only one horse under saidconditions to pull a load which should be drawn by two horses.

The object of my invention is to provide an equalizer which can beconnected to any form of agricultural machine and which permits twohorses to be placed one in front of the other and at the same timeequalizes the draft. a

The invention consists of an equalizer-bar having a clevis forconnecting it to the machine to be pulled, and a swingletree is connected to the upper end of this bar, while a light frame is pivotallyconnected to the lower end of the equalizer-bar and is of sufficientsize to permit the horse which is harnessed to the swingletree to standwithin said frame. Another swingletree is connected to the front end ofthis frame, and the lead-horse is adapted to be harnessed to it. It willtherefore be seen that the pull exerted by the lead-horse will betransmitted to the equalizer-bar and thence to the swingletree of thehorse standing within the frame.

The invention also consists of certain other novel features ofconstruction and combination of parts, which will be hereinafter morefully described, and pointed out in the claims. The accompanyingdrawing, which is a perspective view of my improved equalizer,

shows the preferred form of my invention.

Referring to said drawing by numerals of reference, 1 is anequalizer-bar adapted to be carried vertically by a clevis 2, which hasa forked end 3 embracing the bar 1 and secured thereto by means of a pin4, which is adapted to be placed in any one of a series of apertures 5,formed within the bar. This clevis is adapted to be connected in anydesired manner to the machine to be pulled. A block 6 is pivoted to theupper end of bar 1 and has a swingletree 7 secured at its centerthereto. A cross-bar 8 is pivotally connected to the other end of beam1, and extending from the end of this bar are parallel rods 9, whichextend through the ends of a front cross-bar 10 and are then bowed orcurved in front of said bar,

so as to form a fender for spreading apart any vegetable growths whichmay be contacted thereby. The two rods 9 may be separate or, as shown inthe drawing, can be in one single length terminating at the ends of thecrossbar 8 and having its central portion constituting the fender 11. Arod 12 extends for ward from the center of the front cross-bar 10, andanother swingletree 13 is pivoted thereto at the center. The rods 9extend loosely through rings 14, which are connected in any suitablemanner to the ends of straps 15.

In using the device herein described the rear horse is placed within theframe formed,

by rods 9 and cross-bars 8 and 10 and is then harnessed to the rearswingletree 7. Straps 15 are then secured to said horses harness, sothat the front portion of the frame will be supported by him. Thelead-horse is then harnessed to the front swingletree 13. From theforegoing it will be seen that the pull exerted by the lead-horse willbe transmitted directly to the lower end of the equalizer-bar 1 and willcause the rear swingletree 7 to be pulled backward, and vice versa.

This draft-equalizer will, as hereinbefore stated, be found of greatutility in pulling agricultural machines between rows of vegetablegrowths, particularly when said machines are of such weight as torequire more than a single horse to pull them.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A draft-equalizer comprising an equalizer-bar, a swingletree, a rigiddevice pivoted at opposite ends to said swingletree and one end of theequalizer-bar, there being a sufficient distance between theequalizer-bar and the swingletree to allow a draft-animal to standtherebetween, and a second swingle- IIO tree movably connected to theother end of the e ualizer-bar.

' 2. draft-equalizer comprising an equalizer-bar adapted to be fulcrumedbetween its ends, a rigid frame movably connected to one end of saidbar, said frame being sufficiently large to permit a draft-animal tostand there- 1n, and swingletrees movably connected to the other end ofthe equalizer-bar and to the front end of the frame, respectively.

3. A draft-equalizer comprising an equalizer-bar adapted to be fulcrumedbetween its ends, a frame pivoted to said bar at one side of itsfulcrum, said frame being sufficiently large to allow a draft-animal tostand therein, swingletrees pivoted to the equalizer-bar at the otherside of its fulcrum and to the forward end of the frame, respectively,and a fender extending from the forward end of said frame. 7

4. A draft-equalizer comprising an equalizer-bar adapted to be fulcrumedbetween its ends, a frame pivoted to said bar at one side I of itsfulcrum, said frame being sufficiently large to allow a draft-animal tostand therein, swingletrees pivoted to the equalizer-bar at the otherside of its fulcrum and to the forward end of the frame, respectively, afender posed one in front of the other for use by draft-animals intandem; of draft-equalizing means connecting said swingletrees, andsupporting meansengaging one end of said equalizing means and adapted tobe secured to the rear draft-animal.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of the subscribing witnesses.

HUBERT T. RAIL-SBQACK.

Witnesses:

ANGUS W. RALsToN, M. V. VAN METER, O. J. LOGAN.

